Department of Transportation March 16, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information is needed in order for Maritime Administration officials to evaluate the underwriters and determine their suitability for providing marine hull insurance on Maritime Administration vessels. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice modifies the pilot Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (``RRIF'') Express Program (``RRIF Express'') aimed at increasing access to the RRIF program by short line and regional railroads. Specifically, this notice: 1. Clarifies dates and responsibilities of applicants who have submitted RRIF Express Letters of Interest between January 13, 2020 and the date of this notice (Section DATES) 2. Offers an alternative to the current requirement for five years of audited financial statements, allowing for audits of the two most recent years' financial statements. If this option is selected, applicants must produce five years of (non-audited) financial statements plus a self-certification from the applicant that they will provide the most recent two years of audited financial statements within 60 days of submitting the LOI and supporting materials (Section IV(iv)). 3. Resets the 90-day application period to begin on the date that this revision is posted in the Federal Register (Section DATES) The original NOFO with modifications follows. The RRIF Express Program will be administered by the DOT's National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau (the ``Build America Bureau'' or ``Bureau''). The overall RRIF program finances development of railroad infrastructure, and is authorized to have up to $35 billion in outstanding principal amounts from direct loans and loan guarantees at any one time. The 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act \1\ appropriated $25 million in budget authority to the DOT to cover the cost to the Federal Government (``the Government'') of RRIF credit assistance (Credit Risk Premium (``CRP'') Assistance or ``CRP Assistance''). Additionally, the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act \2\ and the 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act \3\ provided $1.96 million and $350,000, respectively (of which approximately $1 million remains available), to the DOT to fund certain expenses incurred by prospective RRIF borrowers in preparation of their applications for RRIF credit assistance (this approximately $1 million assistance, collectively, ``Cost Assistance''). Using existing authorities and these new budget authorities, the DOT has established the RRIF Express Program.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On December 30, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of incorrectly engaged lock washer tabs of the main landing gear (MLG) forward pintle bearing (FPB) at the forward face of the trunnion block. This AD requires detailed inspections of the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) side MLG FPB nuts and lock washer tabs, and depending on findings, accomplishment of repetitive detailed inspections or corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that, under certain combinations of airplane configuration and flight conditions, higher than anticipated temperatures could lead to an engine fire warning nuisance message. This AD requires installation of Integrated Air Systems Controller (IASC) software version 5.0. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell Canada) Model 429 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting a certain part-numbered curvic coupling for proper engagement and depending on the inspection results, inspecting for play, inspecting the curvic coupling teeth, inspecting the flapping bearing teeth, replacing parts, performing a rigging check, and reporting information. This AD was prompted by a report of disengaged teeth of a curvic coupling due to improper installation. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.